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(No Model.) J. T. HAMMIGIL Oar Coupling. No. 243,251. A Patented June 21;1881.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOSEPH T. HAMMIOK, OF BHINEBEOK, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of,Letters Patent No. 243,251, dated June 21, 1881.

Application tiled March 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH T. HAMMIGK, of Rhinebeck, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car Couplers and Detachers, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on the line a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa front elevation of the body of the car, showing the cords which operate the detaching-lever and the retaining-pawl. Fig. 4 is an elevation, showing the retainingpawl holding the operating-lever in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The objectot' my invention is to provide improved car coupling and detaching devices, by means of which cars may be coupled and uncoupled without going between them by using the ordinary link, either straight or crooked.

My invention consists, first, in the peculiar arrangement of parts within the draw-head,

whereby the tension or force is so distributed that a forward sliding head, which eventually holds the coupling-link up to the coupling-pin, is impelled forward with less power than an additional sliding head which is behind it, both slidingheads being supported and guided on the same rods, whichare firmly secured in the front and back ends of the draw-head; and,

second, in the arrangement, in combination with a projection formed upon the draw-head to hold the coupling-pin in readiness to fall by its own gravity, of a lever fulcrumed at the top of the car and connected with .said coupling-pin by a system of chains or cords conducted to each side of the car, whereby the coupling-pin may be withdrawn from the drawhead and held so that it may replace itself by its own gravity, means being also provided whereby said lever may be retained in place after the withdrawal of the coupling-pin, the whole arrangement of my improvement being such that the coupling-link may be easily forced entirely within the draw-head and preserved from injury.

I more particularly describe my invention as follows:

The drawings, Fig. 1, represent at U the section of one end of an ordinary box or freightcar with my improvements connected therewith.

The draw-head A consists of a strong box or frame having a tapering hole in its front, as at A, to permit the entrance of the couplinglink L, and also provided with openings through its top and bottom, through which the body of the coupling-pin passes. Two strong rods, a a, are securely fastened in the-front and back ends of the draw-head, and serve, first, to strengthen the entire draw-head; second, to support the sliding head F, which is formed of the rectangular frame-work Z) 0 cl 0, and in which the central pin, B, is fixed, on which pin B the spring D is supported. The tongue t is fastened rigidly in the plates b and c, and slides in a recess out in the top of the back or secondary sliding head, E, between which and the'head-piece I) the spring D is compressed. The said tongue 25 thus acts to help guide the longitudinal movements of the sliding heads E and F, and also affords a rest for the lower end of the coupling-pin when it is withdrawn, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The sliding head E is also supported and guided on the stay-rods a a, and a pair of springs, G G, loosely coiled on the rods (1, are compressed between the back end of the draw-head and the back of the head E, as shown. Retaining cords or chains 0 limit the forward movement of said head E.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the front sliding head, F, is shown partially slid back and holding the link L in place by the coupling-pin P. It will be understood that when the link L is not so confined in the draw-head the spring D will force the head F up to the inner face of the front end of the draw-head A. The spring D offering much less resistance to the backward sliding of the fronthead, F, on the forcible entrance of the coupling-link into the draw-head than the two springs G offer against a sliding movement of the secondary head E, it is evident that said front head, F, will first slide back on the entrance of said coupling-link and compress the spring D only, the sliding movement of the head F beingsufficicnt to admit of coupling the cars without requiring a backward-sliding movement of the secondary head E; but when, in the actof coupling cars or switching them, the cars should come in violent contact with each other or with any obstacle, the secondary sliding head E will be also forced backward by the head F until the coupling L is forced entirely within the draw-head A. Said link Lis thus always protected from injury.

I describe my improved detaching apparatus as follows:

A projection, M, of proper height is formed upon the front of the draw-head A, so that it shall embrace the body of the coupling-pin and prevent its entire withdrawal from the drawhead by the limited movement of the lever N. A chain or cord, V, connects the head 1 of the coupling-pin with said lever N, which is suitably fulcrumed in a standard, N, on the top of the car. The other end of lever N is connected, as at R, with the cords r, which are carried down through the car-roof and diverged to both sides of the car, as in Fig. 3, where they pass through suitable guidingstaples, S, terminating below with proper handles or rings S, which afford means for pulling down the back end of the lever N and raising the coupling-pin P, as in dotted lines, Fig. 1, from either end or side of the car, the projection M meanwhile holding the couplingpin in readiness to again fall in place, as in full lines, by its own gravity. When the parts are in the relative positions shown in dotted lines the retainingrings T on the cords r can be slipped over the staples S, or other hooks or knobs specially provided for the purpose, and the coupling-pin will be held withdrawn in case it is not desired to couple the cars.

I have also prm'ided means whereby the lever N may be secured with its end It depressed, and again released from the platform or from either side of the car, which means consist of the pawl a, pivoted to the upright N, and having attached to itthe cord n, which passes through the car-roof, and may hang vertically over the platform, as in Fig. 3, or be connected with diverging cords n, as in Fig. 1, said cords passing through guiding-staples of, which latter arrangement admits of releasing said pawl n from either side of the car.

My improved coupler and detacher may be applied to any ordinary build of freight-cars without compelling an alteration of its framework. Any ordinary style of coupling-link may also be used, be said links either longitudinally straight or crooked, as when coupling cars whose bumper-beams or draw-heads do not meet in the same horizontal plane.

My apparatus is shown in the drawings in a crude form, as made of wood principally. It should be made principally or wholly of metal, in which case ample strength may be secured with minimum weight.

It is obvious that my apparatus above described may be operated to couple or uncouple cars to which it is applied, or secured against any coupling action of the cars, either by the direct operation of the lever N, by a railroad attache on the roof of the cars, or by the operthe sliding head E, the tongue t, fastened rig idly in plates 1) 0, the springs G, and the cords 0 0, as shown and described.

2. In combination with the secondarysliding head E, the retaining-cords 0, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination, with the lever N, the pawl 02, provided with a cord or cords, n, substantially as and for the purposes herein specifled.

JOSEPH T. HAMMIOK.

Witnesses J. O. McOARTY, O. E. MCGARTY. 

